Have you noticed—October is Pastor Appreciation Month?

Have you noticed—October is Pastor Appreciation Month?

I know some churches and individuals make a big deal out of it and have a church supper in honor or their pastor/s—complete with gifts. Some congregations even send their pastor and spouse on a cruise or similar vacation.

Then of course there are other congregations that don’t even know the occasion exists, or perhaps pretend they don’t.

Your pastor prays for you.

It seems that many people are clueless about just how tough it is to be a pastor. Some believe their pastor simply reads his/her Bible, prays, and visits sick people.

The reality is that the job of pastor is much more demanding and complex than that.

I didn’t grow up in a pastor’s home and I’m not a pastor’s wife, so I’ve not have that personal experience. But I’ve know many pastors and have been friends with several pastor’s wives and children. I’ve observed some of the many trials and challenges they go through on a regular basis.

In an article written by Philip Wagner*, himself a pastor, he states: Peter Drucker, the late leadership guru, said that the four hardest jobs in America (not necessarily in order, he added) are:

·         The President of the United States

·         A university president

·         A CEO of a hospital and

·         A pastor   

He goes on to list some of the unique problems pastors face. Here’s a brief synopsis:

1. Pastors face a lot of criticism from many directions and for many reasons.

2. Pastors experience a lot of rejection due to the nature of their position and the nature of congregants coming and going.

3. Pastors often face betrayal, as they work with their staff and minister to people. It’s not unusual for a pastor’s staff or church member to turn on them due to personal conflict or simply not getting their way.

4. Pastors often suffer loneliness due to the fact that they often find it hard to have a close friend.

5. Pastors grow weary due to the numerous hours they spend attending to their many responsibilities.

6. Pastors often have many disappointments and frustrations. Pastors’ salaries are typically average or below the norm and many pastors must have another job in order to meet the financial needs of their families. And they often have no good way to measure their successes and accomplishments, which can be very frustrating.* 

So have you thought about the difficulties faced by pastors and their wives and children?

Most pastors have such a passion to serve God, lead people to Christ, and equip the body they push on through many hardships and trials—with God’s help. But if you could interview a large group of pastors, almost all of them would say they’ve experienced many, if not all, of the above challenges at one time or another.  

In Mr. Wagner’s article, he went on to tell a few things Christians and church members can do to help pastors:

1. Pray for your pastor, that he/she will hear clearly from God.

2. Protect your pastor. Don't get involved with gossip and complaining of other church members.

3. Encourage your pastor. Find ways to help lighten the load and let him/her know you care and want to help in any way you can. 

These three things appear to be very simple and I believe the Holy Spirit can show us other things we can do for our pastors that are specific to their individual needs. When we, as church members, do the above three things with diligence and sincerity, it can make a huge difference in the lives of our pastors and their families. And just think of the benefits for the church as a whole as well.

Baby Dedication - Happy times for pastor.

Remember to smile at your pastor and be friendly to his/her spouse and children. If you want to see your pastor smile back, tell him/her that you appreciate and are praying for him/her.

AND since this is Pastor Appreciation Month, perhaps a gift card or some such gesture of appreciation is in order. Ask God to help you come up with the best way to bless your pastor/s. 

* Italicized sections are paraphrased from Philip Wagner’s article, “The Secret Pain of Pastors and Church Leaders.”  To read the entire article, go to:

http://www.churchleaders.com/pastors/pastor-articles/167379-philip-wagner-secret-pain-of-pastors.html.

©Connie Wohlford 2015

God Never Gives Up

God Never Gives Up

Have you ever given up on someone?

Have you declared, “Oh, I give up!”?

Has someone said to you, “You’ll never change!”?

This week I watched God show that He never gives up on people. No matter the sin; no matter the darkness; no matter the misery one chooses for oneself, God will relentlessly pursue people.

A dear man, whom I’ve known all my life, passed into Eternity earlier this week. In the days leading up to his death I sat or stood by his hospital bed along with his wife, mother, and sister.

Just hours before his death, tears trickled down my cheeks as I watched and listened to him struggle to muster enough strength to tell his 90 year old mother he was sorry for the years of worry, anguish, and sorrow he had caused her. He could barely say, “I’m sorry.”

She assured him that she had never stopped loving him and had never stopped praying for him. God heard every prayer and every heart cry.

This once young, tall, and very handsome man now lay in a weakened body, ravaged by years of fast living, abuse, and addiction.

This once brilliant mind now turned his thoughts to regret, sorrow, and yes−repentance.

That word, repentance, is the operative word in his situation. In recent years, as his body was failing, this man saw that his end was not far off. He turned his heart back to his Heavenly Father.

And God was there. He’d been there all along—always in relentless pursuit because He wants none to parish in an eternity of torment and hopelessness.

The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 NRSV

The morning after the small memorial, as I prayed for the family and his three scattered adult children, God gently reminded me that He never gives up on people. He had never given up on this man and He will not give up on the children who hardly knew their father.

Have you ever feared that God has given up on you? Or, have you feared He has given up on someone you love? That fear is groundless in light of God’s Promises and Covenants.

Don’t give up. Know that God hears your prayers and sees your tears. As long as there’s life, there’s hope. HOPE for redemption. That’s our other operative word—Redemption.

Jesus’ work on the cross canceled the debt of sin for anyone who would believe and receive Him. We each owed a debt we couldn’t pay SO Jesus paid that debt He didn’t owe−thus REDEMPTION. We only need to believe and receive.

My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise. Psalm 51:17



Photo by Elijah Hail

Like the prodigal son Jesus spoke of in Luke 15, God, the Father is watching for the run-away to return and for the lost to be found.

If you’re the prodigal, don’t delay another moment. Don’t cause another tear to run down the cheek of your anguished loved one.

Turn to your Heavenly Father. He has not given up on you. He’s not mad at you. His love is never-ending and ever-reaching. Talk to Him now.

 

©Connie Wohlford

When the rain comes ...

When the rain comes ...

So are you ready for the storm? Hum—am I ready for the storm?

Those of us in parts of Eastern United States are listening to the rain fall and wondering just how bad it’s going to get. After about a week of rain already, the forecast calls for downpours today and tomorrow, using words like “dangerous winds and historic flooding.” Hurricane Joaquin is threatening much of the East coast. (It has already begun, in fact.)

Side note – according to Wikipedia, the origin of the name Joaquin is Hebrew, meaning “lifted by Yahweh.”  Yahweh is a Hebrew word for God. I’m not trying to read anything into this fact, but do think it is interesting.



Yesterday, near my friend's home

SO—it’s been raining; it’s raining now; and it looks like more is going to fall onto our saturated ground for two or three more days. The whole scenario could be extremely problematic, especially for people living in low lying areas.

WOW! Does this not sound like LIFE! God’s Word says, for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust (Matt. 5:45).

 

Jesus said, These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will  have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world (John 16:33).

David Wilkerson wisely wrote, “I would be lying if I told you that Christians will observe sorrow, trouble, unemployment and depression on all sides while they themselves remain safe within a cozy cocoon of health and wealth. The Bible says God causes the rain to fall on both the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45). Job was holy—yet he suffered! But just as God brought Job out of his affliction, so He will bring us out even though we, too, will go through the fire.” *

This morning one of my Carolina Facebook friends posted:

Generator working✔. Chainsaw working✔. Gutters cleaned out✔.
Tub filled with water in case power goes out leaving us with no water✔. Clean water in pots for kitchen use✔. We're ready for the storm but pray it doesn't develop as predicted.

 

People all over the area are ready and getting ready for high winds and flooding rains.

Spiritually speaking, are we ready? Are we ready for the wind and rain that will come in varying forms to disrupt smooth sailing in life?  What trials are flooding your life at this moment?

Whether it be weather related storms or life storms, it pays to be ready. Like my Facebook Friend, we need to be ready.

We need a working generator. If we’re not connected to God, our power source of life and strength, we’ll likely crumble when darkness encircles us. (John 15:5)

We need a working chainsaw. When heavy limbs fall across our path we need the power of the Holy Spirit to clear the way as only He can. (Romans 8:11)

We best have the gutters cleaned out to make way for the unobstructed flow of hurt and offence so we can shed harmful debris and keep our sights set on our Maker, who is the Author and Finisher of our faith. (Col. 3:2)

We need a store of water to refresh our bodies. (Ezekiel 36:25)

We need fresh pure water to refresh our spirits. Only God can do this. Let’s wash ourselves from the inside out with the Word of God.  (Ephesians 5:26) (Psalm 42:1)

Let’s pray! Actually, let’s do this first. Prayer is our sacred assignment. In all things we are to pray. Let’s not wait until trials rush in like a flood. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

 “In the midst of your trial, some of you already have adopted the despairing language of Job. Your heart cries out, ‘God, what did I do wrong? I don't understand why this calamity has fallen on me when I loved You most, my walk was holy, my heart pure, and my spirit was longing after You. It seems like the closer I draw to You, the deeper I fall into trouble and the more sorrows come.’ We do not realize how important it is to God that we trust Him through all the floods of trouble that come upon us from hell. You see, the devil cannot touch you or test you unless God first lets down the wall and allows it.” *David Wilkerson

Above, I mentioned that people living in low lying areas are subject to exceptional trials during heavy rains. Let’s look at that in terms of life—Are you living in a low level of life? –Perhaps in deep sin or you’re simply not in sync with God? If so, you’re subjecting yourself to exceptional difficulties. Let the Lord, your Creator, lift you to a higher plane. He wants to; He’s not mad at you; and He loves you with unfailing love.

 

As you finish reading this post let’s look up and be lifted up out of the floods that seem to be closing in. Just as the deer is refreshed by a cool drink of water let’s be refreshed by God’s Word and His promises to those who love and serve Him. Please watch, listen, and be lifted -- youtube:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sa6kplL3wjk 

  

* http://davidwilkersontoday.blogspot.com/2013/01/it-rains-on-just-and-unjust.html

©Connie Wohlford 2015

A Lamp – Are you walking in the light or in the dark? (4)

Part 2.  A Lamp - Are you walking in the light or in the dark? (4)          

We continue with RiSiKiLi−

              You know− Read it, Study it, Know it, Live it.  

What do you know about the great prophet Isaiah?

Many know him as the one who said, But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

He also said quite a bit about light and our need for the light that comes from God. He besought God’s people to turn from their pagan ways and live in the illumination provided by the Word of God that was available to them at that time—around 700-690 B.C.

Also God spoke directly to Isaiah, giving clear direction for His people, the children of Israel. Under God’s authority, Isaiah declared God’s displeasure with His people.

Early on in Isaiah’s life of prophesying, he pleaded, O house of Jacob, come and let us walk in the light of the Lord (Isaiah 2:5).

Had God’s people made the choice to heed His plea, the course of their history would have been much different. They would have averted the disastrous consequences of their decision to walk in darkness rather than light.

Do you believe our own nation will face disastrous consequences for the ways we have turned away from God in recent years?

God had guided the Israelites through history and wanted to continue to do so. Had they obeyed the commands of the Lord, they would not have been overtaken and many brutally killed by their enemies. Their children would not have been carried away into Babylon, repeopled, and made into eunuchs and slaves.

Note that the terrible future, that awaited the Jews, did not come on them by the hand of their Heavenly Father, but by their own choice to walk away from His protective hand. In doing so, they walked right into the brutal hands of powerful enemies. They choose not to walk in the light of the Words of their Lord.

For many years God’s nation of chosen people were scattered, living under the thumb and rule of others—the very enemies of their God. Nonetheless, the world, and all of mankind, can be grateful that throughout this terrible time in Israel’s history, there was a remnant, though scattered, that remained in God’s light, faithful to God and the Words He had spoken.

Isaiah was one of those, as was Jeremiah, Daniel, the three Hebrew sons who survived the fiery furnace—and others as well.

We can learn useful lessons from those who’ve gone before us. God had shown them the way. He had provided the light for their path of life. In our own age, He has illuminated our way with His instruction manual for living, the Bible, God’s Word of Truth.

Look at the opening words of the Apostle John’s Gospel. He declares: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it (John 1:1-5).

John is telling us that Jesus is the expressed Word of God—the eternal and ultimate expression of God and is the light that no darkness can overtake. This gives us reason enough to dance and shout with unspeakable joy!




Photo by Joshua Hibbert

Are you walking in the light provided by your Creator? 

Moving about in the dark or even in dim light is tough going. It’s frustrating and makes it hard to accomplish much. And what we do accomplish is often flawed. We might also get hurt or even killed. 

Let’s commit to walk in the light of the Word of God.

Thank you for stopping by my blog today. Please feel free add a comment to the conversation if you’d like. 

©Connie Wohlford

“Appointed Times” of God

“Appointed Times” of God 

Do you know that today is the 5^th Day of the 10 Days of Awe?

Are you aware that 5 days ago, we could greet one another saying, “Happy New Year”?

If you’re a Gentile (not Jewish), like me, you likely didn’t know these things.

And if you’re a Christian, like myself, you might find today’s post interesting and informative. The reason being, the Jewish holidays, set up by God Himself, point to the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan in Jesus, the Messiah. 

So let’s get a snapshot look at the Fall Feasts for 2015: 

This past Sunday rang in the Jewish New Year <> sundown, September 13 – September 15. This holiday is Rosh Hashanah, also called the Feast of Trumpets.

“The blowing of the shofar (ramʼs horn) or trumpet heralds the Jewish New Year or Head of the Year. It recalls the time of the victory at Jericho. Trumpets are blown to herald the entrance of a King.

The Bible notes a time when all Israel is gathered back to the land by the blowing of a great ram’s horn (Is 27:13) and also of a time when all believers will be gathered to Jesus the Messiah (1 Thess. 4:16-18). Therefore the blowing of the shofar has prophetic significance.” (1)

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore comfort one another with these words. 1 Thess. 4:16-18

“Traditions: Eating of apples dipped in honey to signify the traditional greeting Jewish people say at this time of year ~ Shanah Tovah ~ which means ‘have a good (or sweet) year’.” (1)

A couple years ago and again this past Sunday, I had a small Rosh Hashanah celebration with one of our grandsons and a young cousin.

We celebrated with apples and honey and recited the Jewish blessings.

Here are a couple of the Rosh Hashanah blessings:

May it be Your will, Adonai our God, and the God of our ancestors, to favor us with a good and a sweet year.
 

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, Who creates the fruit of the tree. (2)

The boys loved the experience and asked that we be sure to do it again next year. 

Coming up in just a few days is Yom Kippur, also called the Day of Atonement, <> sundown, September 22 – 23. 

“Beginning with Rosh Hashanah and ending with Yom Kippur are the 10 Days of Awe or the Days of Repentance. According to Jewish tradition, this is when God decides each person’s fate for the next year. Prophetically it points to the time when Israel with be gathered to her Messiah Jesus.

Let us pray for the eyes of the Jewish people to be opened so they will receive cleansing from their sin and impurity through the atoning work of Jesus. May they look upon Him whom they have pierced and mourn for Him as one mourns for a firstborn son (Zechariah 12:10).” (1)

“And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.” Zechariah 12:10

The idea of the 10 Days of Awe really got me thinking. I also did a little more reading on the subject. These 10 days are a time to be set aside for introspection−a time of deep soul searching and repentance.

To spend a few days dedicated to prayer and asking God to reveal flaws and sins within would be a valuable experience for any of us. Then a period of sincere repentance before the Lord can give a person a new lease on life.

These 10 Days of Awe could really set a person up for a higher level of ministry, productivity, and abundance of life.

The third of the fall feasts is Sukkot, also called the Feast of Tabernacles <> sundown September 27-October 4.

“The building of Sukkahs (booths) during this Feast is a reminder of how God cared for His people while they sojourned in the wilderness. It is also known as the Feast of Ingathering and is a very joyous feast when the Jewish people celebrate God’s provision and how He tabernacled with them.”

“Prophetically it points to God’s relationship with man through Jesus by the Holy Spirit. The dwelling place (tabernacle) of God is with man (Rev. 21:3). It also points to the time when the nations will be ingathered to honor the King of Kings and Lord of Lords by celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem every year (Zechariah 14: 16-18).” (1)   

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading my post today. It's likely many of you know more about Jewish feasts and holidays than I, and perhaps some of my readers are Jewish. Whether Jew or Gentile, I’d be happy for you to post comments telling of your own experiences celebrating the Fall Feasts. 

Shanah Tovah! Have a sweet and prosperous New Year! Shalom!

 

(1)  http://files.ctctcdn.com/e7378a9e001/366ca0f0-5e7a-4066-83af-7cfb43131a39.pdf, a Women of the Word resource.

(2)   http://jewishappleseed.org/apple/rosh.htm

©Connie Wohlford 2015

 

Perfected by Cancer

Perfected by Cancer

For my post today, I’m going to break away from the theme focusing on the value of God’s Word and write about a subject that has been on my heart and mind for the last week or so.

It was my honor to be asked to accept an award for my younger brother, Tommy, who died of cancer 42 years ago, at the age of 22. He was being inducted into the sports hall of fame of our high school alma mater.

As the inductee (fill-in) I was expected to give an acceptance speech and I’d like to share it with you in this post to honor Tommy and the God he loved.

RHS Sports Hall of Fame 2015 − Acceptance Speech for Tommy 

                                                                       −Delivered Sept. 5, 2015

I can’t tell you how honored I am to receive this award on behalf of my brother, Tommy.  All of our family is so pleased and proud. 

Our parents, Rudy and Edith Edwards, would be beyond thrilled for this occasion. 

I appreciate all the intense work done by the committee to make this possible. And thank you Doug and Kenny for your introduction of Tommy.

Tommy Edwards - Radford High School - 1968

As you already heard, Tommy excelled as an athlete and accomplished much in Bobcat sports.

But I want to tell you about another side of Tommy. In fact, this side of him didn’t shine through much until he left RHS and was diagnosed with cancer.

 

Tommy’s dream was to play football for VA Tech. And Coach Jerry Claiborne wanted Tommy on his team. But, needing to pull up his GPA, Tommy took a detour to Massanutten Military Academy and then to Ferrum Junior College, playing football at both places.                 

But Tommy’s dream of becoming a Hokie football player never came about. He was 19 years old when doctors at Duke University Hospital diagnosed him with cancer. 

This athletic, popular, talented, handsome, and seemingly healthy young man was stopped in his tracks that day. The doctors told us that the lump beside his eye was malignant and his eye would have to be removed. To add insult to injury, they also said there was no hope of him using a prosthetic eye because some tissue and bone also need to go. Therefore he would have to wear a patch for the rest of his life.                                                    

 

Tommy Edwards - Ferrum Jr. College -1970

Even after all this, Tommy played football at Ferrum the next season (1972).  He did get ticked off at his coach for not putting him in the games due to pain he was having in his neck. We soon learned that cancer had damaged his vertebrae, thus causing pain.

Did God give Tommy cancer in order to stop him in his tracks?  No.

God does not put cancer on people. But God does use bad circumstances to bring about His ultimate good.

Back in the first century when Stephen was stoned to death because he was a Christian, the believers in Jerusalem scattered, and the Gospel was spread throughout the known world. God got lots of mileage out of the tragedy of Stephen—thus turning it for good.

So for Tommy, on that sunny September day, his path suddenly changed in two very powerful ways. Instead of playing college football, attending classes, and enjoying campus life, he experienced surgeries, pain, affliction, and fear.                                                                                        

And instead of living the life of a self-indulgent college student, he turned back to the God of his childhood and the Savior he knew he could trust.

My precious brother battled cancer for 2½ years before he went to Heaven on Good Friday of 1973.  As we attended the Easter sunrise service two days later I knew my dear brother was alive and well, and even better yet−he was with our risen Lord.

In Tommy’s situation, there was bad news and there was good news. He had cancer and died at the young age of 22−terrible news.

But that affliction put him on his knees at the foot of the Cross. He turned back to God and encouraged his friends to follow Christ as well. Again, as God does so well, He took a bad situation, and turned it for good, building up His Kingdom in the process.

In a newspaper article, written by Charles Fretwell, a few days after Tommy died, he wrote:

“As outstanding as his accomplishments were in High School athletics, earning many letters in three major sports as well as area wide recognition for his athletic ability, all this fades into the background compared to the last two and a half years of his life. Years in which he demonstrated to his friends, his family, and his associates what it means to be a Christian and how a Christian should react to whatever life has in store for him. As all of us who knew him well realized, he never complained. He made the burden for his family and his friends easier by his acceptance of fate.”

“The last months of his life were spent, not in self-pity nor giving in to pain but in talking to, and writing to, his friends telling them how Christ had strengthened his life and had helped him to bear up under the burdens. He urged them to look anew at their own lives and to allow Christ to be a part of their lives too. He gave to many of them a copy of his favorite book−a Bible.” 

“What have we learned from the experience and the example of this fine young man? Courage has taken on a new meaning for each of us.  …  We all face life with its uncertainties and grope for the means to deal with these uncertainties as they appear on the scene. Courage is not easy to come by nor is it easy to maintain once adversity sets in, but Tommy demonstrated that Christian courage can overcome the cruelest blow and Webster’s dictionary now has a new meaning to add under that word – Tommy Edwards.”      

SO− all the honors and accolades a person can accumulate in a lifetime are nothing in light of Eternity. But they can give a person a platform from which to proclaim the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is what Tommy did in the last days of his life.

The writer of Ecclesiastes said, God has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts.

As I said earlier, cancer knocked Tommy to his knees and he chose to land at the foot of the cross. When he looked up he saw Jesus and came face to face with Eternity.

We’ll all come face to face with Eternity one day. And I so look forward to the glorious reunion with Tommy and other loved ones who’ve chosen to follow Jesus.                                                               

We usually think of cancer as a curse, but cancer perfected Tommy.
It brought out the very best in him and was the catalyst that ultimately brought him to total wellness and wholeness in Eternity. 

So now, with great joy, I accept this award for Tommy.  And on behalf of our family, thank you.

---- We all go through trials of some kind from time to time. Some have cancer or other dreaded afflictions, many have debilitating financial problems, and lots of people seem to have one family crisis after another. We even know folks who have trials in all of the above areas.

Like Tommy, we can turn to Jesus in these tough times. It’s our choice. The Hebrew word for Jesus is Yeshua. I recently read that the root word for Yeshua means safety.

We can find safety in Jesus no matter what our trial. There are lots of scary things that happen to people and today’s world has lots of scary things going on in it. No matter what befalls us, let’s look to Jesus for safety and take comfort in His words: These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.  John 16:33

If you’d like, please comment on how God has helped you through adversity at some time in your life. God bless you and thanks for sharing.

©Connie Wohlford 2015